Abstract: The invention relates to a switching circuit for a permanently excited five-phase stepping motor with a pentagonal circuit of series-connected stator windings. The junctions between neighboring stator windings are connected by electronic switches to different poles of a voltage source or assume a deactivated or floating position. By means of such switches, one can place adjoining windings in series to achieve a half step operation. In one embodiment, half-step operation is obtained by first supplying four stator windings with current while the fifth winding is shorted and subsequently connecting two windings in series by disconnecting or deactivating the junction between them so that all of the windings are supplied with current. In a further embodiment, at least two junctions are deactivated so that the motor can be operated with double the normal operating voltage.